A forthcoming Whitehall Area Chamber of Commerce event promises to kick off with some intensity.

The chamber has joined forces with the Small Business Development Center of Lehigh University to present "How to Start a Business" as a four-part series.

The series is open to all, regardless of where they live or where they propose to locate a new business.

The first session, scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the Ramada in Whitehall, is designed to help class participants find out if they have what it takes to start their own businesses.

"It's going to be a very intense first night," said chamber Executive Laura Long.

"You've got to have a lot of guts to start a business," she said. "You need that drive and determination but you also need the keys of how to do it."

Though intense, that first night will address what Long calls "the fear factor" associated with taking the leap from employee to business owner. The seminar will provide a realistic look at what it really takes to succeed from real business owners who have done it.

Speakers will include Howard Lieberman and Kent Newhart. Lieberman is owner of Business and Community Financing Solutions and executive director of the Whitehall Township Industrial Development Authority. Newhart is owner of ATA Financial Group LLC.

Lieberman and Newhart will take participants through the basics of writing a business plan while discussing both the rewards and risks associated with earning a living as a business owner.

The second night, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23, focuses on who entrepreneurs need to know such as an attorney, accountant, insurance agent and municipal officials.

Whitehall Township officials will be there to answer questions.

"If they're thinking of going to another area, we can help them get a hold of the people they need to talk to," Long said.

Likewise, the chamber will not be pushing membership.

"I want the public to know this is information," said Long. "I don't want them to feel they're coming and having a sales pitch."

The third session, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 30, will cover financing options. The panel of financing experts has yet to be determined, she said.

The fourth session, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 6, goes more in depth on participants' business plans, with 10-minute sessions for participants to get feedback on their plans from business professionals. That session will run until 8:30 p.m.

"By the second, third and fourth night, we'll really know who's serious," Long said.

Long said she recently read a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicating three people are unemployed and seeking jobs for every one job opening.

"There's a lot of people who have maybe been contemplating starting their own business," she said.

Long said a few years ago, the chamber did a one-night seminar on starting a business. "It wasn't as in depth as people wanted it to be," said Long, who wanted to put together something similar but meatier.

"We do get people [coming to the chamber office] who are curious about what they have to do to start a business," said Long, adding one of the chamber's goals is public outreach.

"I was thinking about it more and more, how can we really reach out to the public?" she said. "I'm really excited."

If the series is successful, the chamber will run it again and possibly even expand it, said Long.

"What I'm hoping to do with this is if we have enough people who are very interested in getting this going, then we might add three more Wednesdays," Long said.

For now, however, participants may sign up for one night or all four. Individual sessions are $15 and the whole series is $40.

Those interested in individual sessions can sign up and pay with a credit card on the chamber website at www.waccpa.org. However, the website does not offer an option for the whole series, so those wishing to sign up for all four sessions should call Long at 610-432-4130. The deadline to register is Oct. 9.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing all the different entrepreneurs out there," Long said.